Voting machine counter reader



May 2, 1950 JACOT 2,506,154

VOTING MACHINE COUNTER READER Filed Dec. 30, 1947 m ME HEW F I c 1 7/94 flll erl' Jaaol' Fig 3 mrgg Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VOTING MACHINE COUNTER READER Albert Jacot, Wooster, Ohio ApplicationDecember 30, 1947, Serial No. 794,484

3 Claims. (01. 235-51) in counter readers of the type shown in Swartz Patent No. 1,689,087, issued October 23, 1928, for reading off the vote registered on the several counters and for identifying the latter with their companion voting keys, whereby the indicia upon the counters may be quickly and easily seen and made known when the polls close, and the votes cast for the difierent candidates ascertained immediately and without danger of errors.

An object of the invention is to generally improve and simplify counter readers of the type disclosed in said Swartz Patent No. 1,689,087.

Another object is to mount the reading strips in pairs upon a channel plate adapted to be slidably mounted upon the top of a voting machine with one reading strip suspended upon the key side and the other strip suspended upon the counter side of the machine in corresponding positions.

Another object is to provide a counter reader of this type in which the reading strips are provided with pointers adapted to indicate corresponding keys and counters.

A further object is to provide such a counter reader in which the reading strips are hingedly attached to the channel plate so that the device may be folded for storing, when not in use.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawing and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved counter reader in the manner hereinafter de scribed in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which;

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a voting machine showing a plurality of vertical columns and horizontal rows of voting keys;

Fig. 2 a rear elevation showing corresponding columns and rows of companion counters for the voting keys;

Fig. 3 an end elevation of a voting machine, showing the improved counter reader mounted thereon; and

Fig. 4 a detached perspective view of the counter reader.

The voting machine is indicated generally at IU and comprises a housing within which the mechanism is located. On the front side of the machine a plurality of vertical columns and horizontal rows of voting keys H are shown, and on the rear face of the machine the companion counters I 2 are arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows corresponding to the keys.

The counter reader, for speedy and exact counting of the number of votes cast at an election, comprises a channel plate I3 of sheet metal or the like having the downturned flanges I4 and [5 at opposite ends.

The reading strips 16 and l! are hingedly connected at their upper ends, as indicated at [8 and I9, to the lower edges of the flanges l4 and [5 respectively. A handle 20 is provided upon the top of the channel plate l3 for easily manipulating the same.

The reading strips I6 and I! are in all respects substantially alike and have identical insignia 2! thereon, spaced apart equi-distant to correspond with the spaces between the voting keys and counters in the vertical columns, the strip [6 being in alignment with and adjacent to a vertical column of voting keys and the strip I! being in alignment with and adjacent to the vertical column of companion counters. The identical insignia on each reading strip being thus located exactly opposite to each other as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are thereby mutually identified.

Each of the reading strips has a pointer or indicator 22 thereon associated with corresponding insignia 2| so that when the counter reader is positioned upon the machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pointers 22 will indicate companion columns of keys and counters on opposite sides of the machine.

To locate the reading strips a pair of number strips, indicated at 23 and 24, are provided, one of these number strips being secured horizontally above the several columns of voting keys and the other secured horizontally above the several c01- umns of counters, like indicia, preferably numerals, being marked thereon and spaced apart so as to correspond with the space between the column, each number being aligned with an adjacent column and with a companion column on the oppo site side, the numbers on one strip being in reverse order from the other so as to read alike on opposite sides of the machine.

By such arrangement when the name of any candidate is called, the number above the column and letter on the reading strip opposite the name is given, the companion counter may be immediately identified and the vote therefor announced. The reading strips may be simultaneously shifted from one vertical column to another by slidably moving the channel plate l5 along the top of the machine.

The invention is distinguished by a new cooperation of the pair of reading strips which are joint- 1y, removably and slidably suspended from the top of the voting machine by a common support so that in any position to which the counter reader is moved upon the machine, companion voting keys and counters will be indicated thereby.

I claim:

1. In a voting machine, the combination with a plurality of voting keys arranged in parallel rows,

and vertical columns on one side of the machine, and counters set opposite said voting keys, re spectively, on the opposite side thereof, of means for identifying the several counters with their companion voting keys, respectively, to ascertain the votes indicated thereon, comprising a plate slidably mounted upon the top of the voting machine, and a pair of reading strips having identical insignia spaced apartthereon like the keys and counters in vertical columns, said reading strips being hingedly attached to opposite ends of said plate and suspended therefrom opposite to each othen and means for slidably mounting said plate whereby said reading strips may be aligned with companion columns of keys and counters 2. In a voting machine, the combination with a plurality of voting keys arranged in parallel rows and vertical columns on one side of the machine, and counters set opposite said voting keys, respectively, on the opposite side thereof, of means for identifying the several counters with their companion voting keys, respectively, to ascertain the votes-indicated thereon, comprising a plate slidably mounted upon the top of the voting machine, and a pair of reading strips having identical insignia spaced apart thereon like the keys and counters in vertical columns, said reading strips being hingedly attached to opposite ends of said plate and suspended therefrom opposite to each other, means for slidably mounting said plate whereby said reading strips may be aligned with companion columns of keys and counters, and pointers associated With corresponding insignia upon the reading strips so as to simultaneously indicate a companion key and counter.

3. In a voting machine, the combination with a plurality of voting keys arranged in parallel rows and vertical columns on one side of the machine, and counters set opposite said voting keys, re-

spectively, on the opposite side thereof, of means for identifying the several counters with their companion voting keys, respectively, to ascertain the votes indicated thereon, comprising a plate slidably mounted upon the top of the voting machine and having downturned flanges at its ends, and a pair of reading strips having identical insignia spaced apart thereon like the keys and counters in vertical columns, said reading strips being hingedly attached to the flanges at oppo-,- site ends of. said plate and suspended therefrom opposite to each other, and a handle upon the plate for slidably moving the plate, whereby said reading strips may be aligned with companion columns of keys and counters.

ALBERT JACOT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references'are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,250,379 Stillman et a1 Dec. 18, 1917 1,304,531 Loe May 27, 1919 1,461,975 Eaton et al July 17, 1923 1,560,599 Moler Nov, 10, 1925 1,689,087 Swartz Oct. 23, 1928 

